Kia ora Andrew,

Thank you for your Official Information Act request.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no COVID-19 outbreak at McMurdo Station.

The only COVID-19 in Antarctica is several thousand kilometres away on the other side of the continent.

Please find attached information from the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) with more information.

Antarctica New Zealand's protocols are:
- 2 weeks isolation pre deployment to Scott Base.
- 4 negative COVID-19 tests before travel to Scott Base
- Masks and social distancing at Scott Base until a further COVID-19 test returns negative.
- A traffic light system that includes isolating from the United States Antarctica Program participants as new cohorts arrive on ice
- Weekly health status reporting to New Zealand Government authorities

If you are unhappy with this response, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by calling 0800 802 602.

Ngā mihi nui

Megan Nicholl

Megan Nicholl (she/her)
GM Communications & People

E  [email address]
M  +64 27 2205 989
T   +64 3 358 0213

38 Orchard Road, Christchurch 8053
www.antarcticanz.govt.nz
Please consider the environment before printing this email

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Kia ora ano Andrew,

I have sent messages to gain the below information, but our folk are on annual leave.

I will respond to your request as soon as possible, and no longer than the required 20 days as under the Official Information Act.

Ngā mihi nui

Megan Nicholl

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Kia ora Andrew,

 

Ngā mihi mō tō imera.

 

To clarify my response, please see red text below:

 

2) What policies are in place to ensure that Scott Base personnel who may
have come into contact with Americans can be confirmed to be safe before
returning to New Zealand?

- Am I to understand from this response that testing of Scott Base
personnel, and isolation from infected McMurdo Station personnel, will
only occur when the Americans publicly disclose that infections to their
personnel have been identified, and that Scott Base personnel returning to
New Zealand will not be tested until/unless the Americans disclose that
infections have been identified?

 

·                     Antarctica New Zealand has regular weekly public
health status updates between all programmes in the Ross Sea region. If
there was a case of COVID-19 at any station, we would be informed
immediately.

·                     Antarctica New Zealand aligns with New Zealand’s
domestic situation and, if there was a suspected case at Scott Base, it
becomes a public health matter.

·                     Antarctica New Zealand would work closely with the
Canterbury District Health Board on any response.

·                     The case would immediately isolate and undergo PCR
testing.

·                     If COVID-19 was confirmed, Antarctica New Zealand
would work with the Canterbury District Health Board and other Ross Sea
region partners to decide if we continue to isolate the case, or medevac
back to New Zealand.

 

Antarctica New Zealand’s protocols:

·                     All travellers to Scott Base must be vaccinated

·                     2 weeks strict isolation pre deployment to Scott
Base

·                     4 negative COVID-19 tests before travel to Scott
Base

·                     Masks and social distancing at Scott Base until a
further COVID-19 test returns negative

·                     A traffic light system that includes isolating from
other Program participants as new cohorts arrive on ice

·                     Weekly health status reporting to New Zealand
Government authorities

 

3) Does the Antarctic Institute hold information in regards how infection
will be prevented from infected US personnel transiting the US military
base at Christchurch Airport?

- Does the Antarctic Institute hold information on whether Americans will
be allowed to bring COVID in through Christchurch Airport?

o For any information regarding the [1]United States Antarctic Program,
please contact them directly.

 

Please also refer to [2]COMNAP for COVID-19 Outbreak Prevention and
Management Response.

 

If you are unhappy with this response, you have the right to seek an
investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman. Information about
how to make a complaint is available at [3]Ombudsman New Zealand | Tari o
te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata (ombudsman.parliament.nz) or by calling 0800 802
602.

 

Ngā mihi nui

 

Megan Nicholl

 

 

 

 

[4]cid:image001.png@01D5B664.DA983290 Megan Nicholl ([5]she/her)

GM Communications & People
E  [6][email address]

M  +64 27 2205 989

T   +64 3 358 0213
38 Orchard Road, Christchurch 8053

[7]www.antarcticanz.govt.nz
Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

 

 

 

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Kia ora ano,

To date, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 by any of the Ross Sea partners.

National Antarctic Programmes wanting to travel through New Zealand must work through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with New Zealand health authorities. The same border requirements apply for any National Antarctic Programme travelling through New Zealand as per the COMNAP guidelines as provided to you in an earlier email.

Any COVID-19 community outbreak in Christchurch would be handled by the Ministry of Health.

Ngā mihi nui

Megan Nicholl

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